On March 14, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre told Parliament that there were five crashes of IAF aircraft in 2017-2018 and 31 crashes in four years. The force has an estimated 600 fighter jets across 31 squadrons.

There have been more crashes since Bhamre’s reply, though. Here is the list of INDIAN AIR FORCE Aircraft crash happened after March 14

March 20:A Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) from Kalaikunda in West Bengal crashed into the Subarnarekha River. Pilot safe.

April 3: Indian Air Force’s MI-17 helicopter crashes while landing near Kedarnath temple reportedly injuring its six occupants. The helicopter was carrying eight people — six passengers, the co-pilot and the pilot.

May 23: Cheetah helicopter crashes in Natha Top in Jammu and Kashmir. Crew and passengers safe.

June 05: Air Commodore Sanjay Chauhan, flying a Jaguar from the maritime strike squadron in Jamnagar, Gujarat, is killed when his plane crashes. AOC Chauhan navigated his failing aircraft beyond a village to crash into a field. He is the most senior IAF person to be killed in recent crashes.

june 27: IAF Su-30MKI fighter jet Crashed in an open farm field near Pimpalgaon Baswant town in Nashik, Maharashtra. No casualties have been reported yet. Both pilots are said to have ejected safely.

July 11: Flying Officer Deepak Kandpal ejects safely from his MiG-27 that crashed into a residential area in Jodhpur. There were no fatalities.

The Indian Air Force inventory is a mix of old and new equipment. Aging of equipment is a natural process and is dealt with through proper maintenance, obsolescence management, upgrades and acquisition of new equipment without compromising safety. The MiG-21 and MiG-27 UPG aircraft of Indian Air Force will be phased out on completion of their Total Calendar Life / Total Technical Life by 2024.

Phasing out of aircraft and their replacement with new generation aircraft depends upon national security, strategic objectives and operational requirements of the defence forces and is reviewed by the Government from time to time. This is a continuous process.

Every aircraft which is launched by Indian Air Force is fully airworthy.

Every aircraft accident in the Indian Air Force is investigated by a Court of Inquiry (CoI) to ascertain the cause of accident which may range from human error, technical defect, bird strike etc.